Hero Students Report Suspected Abduction In Goderich - Student Makes It Home Safe

Source: Area OPPDate: Thu Feb 8 05:38:50 MST 2018

(GODERICH, ON) - Huron County Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) would like to thank the public and the staff at Goderich District Collegiate Institute (GDCI), Goderich Public School (GPS) and St. Mary's Catholic School for their assistance with a suspicious person occurrence that took place this afternoon in Goderich.

At approximately 3:30 p.m. at the intersection of Bennett Street & South Street a trio of students from Goderich District Collegiate Institute (GDCI) observed the driver of a pickup truck pull up alongside what was believed to be a 6 or 7-year-old child that was walking by himself.

The driver called out to the boy, "Want a ride kid?" Without hesitation, the child got into the vehicle and the vehicle drove off heading west on Bennett Street.

Fearing the child was in possible danger the concerned students returned to school and promptly reported the encounter to school officials.

Following extensive police patrols, a neighbourhood canvass and a school notification message police were successful in identifying the child and the driver of the pickup truck. Upon speaking with both of them police confirmed the child was not in any sort of danger.

Evidently, the boy that took the ride turned out to be a few years older than what he looked. Police also learned it was a family friend that picked up the boy and dropped him off safely at home.